MOTORNETNEWS  ROAD  TEST  -  MARCH 2008

SUBARU  IMPREZA  R - 5-door hatchback

At first glance you might think the new Imprezza is a BMW as the Euro styling is very similar. With its all-wheel-drive chassis, low centre of gravity, excellent build quality and roomy interior the Impreza is, well - impressive! It represents very good value due to the good equipment list and excellent safety.

OUTSIDE:

The styling is very much modern Euro with nice sculpted lines, minimum of exterior ornamentation, flared guards and curving roofline. The alloy look-alike wheel covers would fool most people from a few metres distance and add to the overall appearance. 

The grille presents a 'happy' face to the Impreza and the shapely headlights add to this effect. Under the bumper is a wide air intake with nacelles at the sides that could house aftermarket driving lights. There is a neat crease line running from the front guard through the door handles to the top of the taillight and the third window  along each side lessens the bulk of the C pillar to improve rearward vision. The exterior mirrors are body-coloured.

The panoramic rear windows curves around the back of the car and is fitted with a washer/wiper system. The bright taillights clusters blend into the hatch door at each side. Front and rear bumpers offer fairly good protection to lights and panels.

At the rear there is a roof spoiler that helps to  keep dust and rain off the window.  The bonnet has gas struts and opens easily to reveal  a quite untidy layout although access to maintenance points is very good.  

INSIDE:

For a family car the light beige trim could be a bit of a disaster as it would show any dirty marks. If this isn't a problem then it is quite attractive! The trim is highlighted by some neat brushed aluminium-look pieces on the door armrests and the dashboard. The three-spoke wheel is fully adjustable and has the cruise controls on it.

The instrument dials are well hooded from reflections but why do makers bother to add a rev counter (tachometer) in an automatic car? The speedo is large and the night lighting is excellent. The curvy exterior styling is repeated inside with the very attractive dash layout. 

Controls for the audio system and air-conditioning are clear and simple to use.  The LCD display is just below the windscreen on the same level as the instrument dials. There are quite a few storage areas in the cabin with two cupholders, door pockets with capacity for a water bottle, a tray in the centre console that has a rattler-free rubber floor, a deep glove box and a handy armrest bin.

The front seats are very comfortable with very good support. They are adjustable for height as are the seat belts . Head and leg room are generous and four adults can be accommodated easily.  The sunvisors each have a covered vanity mirror.

LUGGAGE AREA:

The boot is wide but rather shallow and is fully trimmed. There is a solid floor under which is the inevitable (these days) temporary spare wheel and tyre. The rear seats split fold for greater capacity and the hatch door has an interior recess for ease of closing. The tools are kept neatly under the floor in a non-rattle compartment.

The interior trim in the boot is the same light beige as the rest of the cabin and would soon get very second-hand looking with constant use. There is also a cargo cover to keep prying eyes off your goods.

ON THE ROAD:

The 2-litre flat four engine struggles a bit and feels sluggish until the revs build up. It produces 110kW but at a very high 6400rpm so at normal traffic speeds it isn't developing a lot of horsepower and the low 190Nm of torque at a high 3200rpm doesn't help either. The engine is also noisy and the auto transmission  hunts for the right gear ratio  - another consequence of the horsepower/torque problem.

The result is only reasonable economy with an average of 12 litres per 100km in urban driving and only 9l/100km on the highway. Road and wind noise are minimal. Where the Impreza really shines is in its exceptional grip and roadholding from the all-wheel-drive  and standard Vehicle Stability Control systems. These systems makes it a very safe family car as it also has front, side and head airbags as standard.

PRICE:            $26,490 plus on road costs (4-speed auto) - 5-speed manual is $24,490.

STANDARD:    Dual front, head and side airbags; ABS brake system with Electronic Brake Distribution and Brake Assist; air-conditioning; cruise control; central remote locking; Hill Holder on transmission; engine immobiliser; power mirrors, steering & windows; 4-speaker radio/CD; rear spoiler; front seat belt pre-tensioners and Vehicle Stability Control system.